Sympathy From City Business Men

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5573, 11 February 1931, Page 8

Sympathy From City Business Men

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Before commencing yesterday’s business of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, the president (Mr. M. H. Oram) referred briefly to the earthquake which he described as a catastrophe not only affecting Hawke’s Bay but also the whole of New Zealand. The events were so recent in mind that he need not refer to them in detail except to say that for once rumour had failed to give a correct account of the great, damage wrought and the loss of* life sustained. Ho moved that the Chamber convey to the Mayors of Napier and Hastings, its deepest sympathy in the calamity. The motion was carried, members standing in silence in honour of 1 the dead. Mr. Oram also referred to the great loss the district and two towns had suffered in material damage. There had been tremendous destruction of property both in buildings and goods and he thought sympathy in that loss should be conveyed to the Napier and Hastings Chambers of Commerce. Mr. M. A. Eliott seconded the motion which was carried. “It is only those who have been in the ruined cities who can conceive the amount of destruction that has been wrought,’’ stated Mr. Eliott.